A working version of the Switch from 2016 -apkrig has appeared
Last May, Nintendo was hit by probably the biggest data leak in history. The archive, which was released to the public at the time, contained the source codes of released and unreleased games, their test versions, but also, for example, why it uses Nintendo’s console ecosystem for communication instead of user nicknames. Although it was a big inconvenience, the leak probably helped to find out all the details about the lost extension for Game Boy, because the leaked data could include lost software, and who knows, maybe the 2.5TB package will continue to be useful. Potentially, enthusiasts can start associating it with the development version of the current Switch, which has fallen into the hands of enthusiasts from the group Forest of Illusion.
With the help of @Akfamilyhome we have secured a development Nintendo Switch system (EDEV) from a seller in Hong Kong. The unit is from around April 2016, making it the earliest Switch to be found so far, predating the retail release by almost a whole year. pic.twitter.com/rPdy7Hr4Cf
— Forest of Illusion (@forestillusion) February 15, 2021
They announced about the acquisition of the console a few hours ago on Twitter and added the first details, which they decided it was safe to share with them. First of all, it states that they obtained the pre-production version of the Switch from a dealer in Hong Kong. According to the findings so far, it should come from 2016, less than 12 months before the Switch officially went on sale in March 2017. However, the very appearance of the console is final at first glance and the only thing that distinguishes it from the equipment you can have at home is the form of the cradle for amplification, respectively lowering the volume and the shape of the screws. The test version of the console also has rails for inserting Joy-Cones, although it is not certain at this time whether full functionality is maintained.
It is still too early to make sensitive data available to the public given the active cycle of the console and the expected future expansion.
In terms of software, the device lacks the familiar Horizon interface used by Switch owners. Instead, only the service menu is available, but Forest of Illusion is not currently being discussed. The reasons are quite understandable – it is still too early to make the data available to the public, given the active cycle of the console and the expected future expansion. Nevertheless, the enthusiasts confirmed that everything they found in the console was carefully archived and, together with the fans, they are looking forward to testifying in a few years, which was expected in the beginning for Nintendo Switch, but did not reach the finals at all. In addition, it is likely that this data could potentially lead to misuse of protection and security information, and the Forest of Illusion, given its rich history, will not harm Nintendo. For responsible handling of sensitive information, the group received a few words of thanks and understanding from the community of amateur video game historians.
In the coming hours, we can expect the publication of several more photos and a more detailed description of basic information about the entire facility.
